PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
December 14, 2006
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN ISSUES 2007 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
Archbishop Oshagan issued his annual Christmas message today for the
upcoming celebration of Christmas and Epiphany on January 6, 2007.
In his message entitled "His Father’s House," the Prelate asks the
Faithful to make God’s House their home. "If we are searching for a gift on
the occasion of Christmas, let it be the return to the holiness of family
life and ethical and moral values. That gift is our obedience to God, with
the promise to listen, and especially to promise to implement His
commandments. Thus, we live in God’s house, living His holiness, when we
fill our homes and families with our sacred traditions and our national
heritage. We provide witness to the world to this by the life we live and
when we build God’s universal house, filled with God’s goodness and charity,
where all humankind lives in peace and good will," said the Prelate.
To read the message in Armenian click
geArm.pdf
To read the message in English click
50th ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION OF
ARCHPRIEST FR. MOUSHEGH DER KALOUSTIAN
WILL BE CELEBRATED THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday, December 17, the community will celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the ordination of Archpriest Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian. The
event will take place at the Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows, New
York, at 3 pm. In the morning Der Moushegh will celebrate the Divine Liturgy
at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral where he served as the pastor for thirty
years. For more information click
PRELAT E WILL ATTEND "CELEBRATION OF SERVICE"
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over a special event in "celebration of
service," at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Saturday evening,
December 16. The parish is honoring its past chairmen and past members of
the board of trustees.
REV. FR. ARAM STEPANIAN TO SERVE AS CHAPLAIN
Rev. Fr. Aram Stepanian, pastor of St. Asdvadzadzin Church,
Whitinsville, Massachusetts, will be inducted as the chaplain of the
Armenian American Veterans of Milford, Massachusetts, this Sunday, December
17.
PRELATE ATTENDS LUNCHEON HONORING
POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS
Yesterday afternoon, Archbishop Oshagan attended a thanksgiving and
Christmas luncheon hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, in
honor of the members of the local New York City Police and Fire departments.
The day began with morning services attended by the police and fire
fighters, prior to the luncheon which was attended by the parish’s senior
citizens. This annual event has become a tradition that has brought the
church and local community closer together. Archbishop Oshagan praised the
dedicated work of the police and fire fighters and expressed his prayers for
their safety in the execution of their duties protecting the citizens of New
York City.
OPINION PIECE BY MARK GERAGOS ON
POPE’S VISIT TO TURKEY
The well-known attorney, Mark Geragos, has written an opinion piece
carried by ABC News titled "Pope’s Silence on Armenian Genocide Shameful."
To read the article click
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EMERGENCY RESTORATIONS COMPLETED ON
ST. THADDEUS CHURCH
According to reports circulated on the Internet, emergency restorations
on St. Thaddeus Church in Iran were recently completed. According to the
report, "Heavy rains had washed away the mortar gluing the stories on the
dome.causing cracks on the dome and its columns, which were restored by
experts during the initial phase of this project." The church’s surrounding
area was reorganized, the northern fortified tower was restored and the
southwestern tower was strengthened. St. Thaddeus Church, also known as Kara
Kilisa (Black Church), is considered to be one of the oldest churches in the
world. St. Thaddeus Church is going to be submitted to UNESCO to be listed
on the organization’s World Heritage Sites. A previous application was
denied because of the lack of documentation and maps. To read the entire
story click
ST. JAMES OF NISIBUS
This Saturday, December 16, is the feast day of St. James (Hagop) of
Nisibis, one of the participants at the first ecumenical council in Niceas
in 325 A.D. St. James was educated in Caesarea and was a first cousin of St.
Gregory the Illuminator. He was the first bishop of Nisibis, a city in Asia
Minor that was a transit point of the caravans traveling between east and
west, and which was an important early Christian center. St. James is one of
the most beloved saints in the Armenian Church. Gregory of Narek dedicated
one of his hymns to him. Although there is not much known about his personal
life, he is believed to be the first person to try to reach the summit of
Mt. Ararat in search of the Ark. A fragment of the Ark, which he found, is
in Holy Etchmiadzin.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday, December 17, is the fourth Sunday of Advent. Remember that
advent should be a period of quiet reflection. Certainly it should also be a
time of remembrance of those less fortunate than us. Feed the hungry. Clothe
the homeless. Visit the shut-ins. Recommit and reinforce the Lord’s
commandments. That’s the real Christmas.
FAMINE INDEED!
In this season of giving, we recalled a poster we saw some years ago in
front of a church in Manhattan announcing a forthcoming lecture. We chuckled
over it and wondered if anyone else noted the irony. It read:
"The Reality of Famine"
Feb. 7
Cocktails 7:30
Dinner 8:15
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 16-"A Celebration of Service" in honor of past chairmen and board
of trustees members. Under auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, St.
Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, 8 pm. For information and
reservations 718-224-2275.
December 16-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Men’s Club and
Ladies’ Guild Christmas Party and Dinner Dance, 7 pm, $40 per person.
Reservations a must by December 9. Held at Dwight Englewood School, Klein
Campus Dining Hall, Englewood, NJ. For information: 201-943-4056
(Kiledjian); 201-461-4283 (Mirakian).
December 17-50th anniversary celebration of the ordination of Archpriest Fr.
Moushegh Der Kaloustian, sponsored by the Prelacy Religious Council, at
Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York. Der Moushegh will celebrate
the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral (221 E. 27th Street, New
York City) on Sunday morning.
December 24-Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
December 31-New Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey and ARF Dro Gomideh, Parsippany Hilton, New Jersey. Featuring
Arthur Apkarian and Armenia Band. For full information contact the church
office 201-943-2950.
December 31-New Year’s Eve Party, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston,
New York.
December 31-New Year’s Eve Party, St. Gregory Illuminator Armenian Church,
Granite City, Illinois.
January 6-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
first Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.
January 6-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Christmas party and
special program for Saturday and Sunday school students.
January 28-Annual Membership Meeting, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda,
Maryland, at 1 pm.
February 4-St. Sarkis name day, celebrating the patron saint of the church
and requiem service for Archpriest Rev. Fr. Asoghik Kelejian, St. Sarkis
Church, Douglaston, New York.
February 11-General Membership meeting and elections, St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
February 17-St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, Annual
Membership Meeting.
February 18-Poon Paregentan, Eve of Great Lent, International Cuisine Night,
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
